How do we get out of this mess????

sexymouse

Have you tried approaching your local nursery schools to see if they need any assistants? You would probably get your childcare free then. I worked at a nursery school in my uni summer holidays, and one of the young mums that worked there had her little one there for free. She didn't have any qualifications either. Your husband could drop you off and pick you up on the way to and from work then. Just a thought!

pounds_and_pensive

Since little ones grow at such an astonishing rate, maybe you have some clothes or baby gear of the littlest's (or anything the oldest won't pass down) that you could eBay. As a side-effect of doing this, I got to know the counter staff at the Post Office quite well - if there are any local opportunities going, they'll often know about them.

tanmu

well, it's quite complicated really....as we have so many different accounts (4 current accounts between us), with different money going into each, we kind of just juggle our money around. To be honest, I am only recently aware of just how bad our finances are, and as I am at home and able to make the necessary calls/emails, and do the required research, it has kind of fallen to me to wade through the mess and sort it out. I am going to open a new current account and have all our money paid into it, then make sure that our priority bills come out first.....I can then see what we are left with and try and kill the high interest cards first.....

lil'H

with your phone internet cable package, who is it with. COuld you downgrade the cable to a basic package, also NTL are doing all 3 for £30. Ring your supplier and ask them to match it. I'm paying £21 a month for phone (including unlimited landline calls day and night) and 8MG Broadband, thats with NTL because I rang and threatened to cancel. Always worth trying to get suppliers to cut prices, that way you save without loosing what you already have.

Also echoing Lynz move anything you can to the 0% card, that way your payments will go further in reducing the debts.

lil'H
x

In_Search_Of_Me

Just wanted to say hi & welcome. Re work could you do something like twilight hours as tesco, asda, staching shelves - whatever you need to do really to get some extra cash in. I know its hard & exhausting but the bottom line is that you have more going ot & coming in & you need to redress this before the sitauation is no longer a choice for you!! Sorry to be tough but the reality & both you & OH need to sit down & tackle this as a couple & realistically assess what to do before things get unmanageable. Big hugs!

overbudget

Hi and welcome. On working from home - do you have any hobbies, particular skills/knowledge etc that you could start from?

tanmu

Well....I speak/read/write fluent german, and although it's been a few years since I've used it to any degree, I speak/read/write fluent french. I also play the piano, so I guess I could offer tutoring from home or something....should look into that. Me and OH have been regularly looking at ways to increase incomings/reduce outgoings. Just called NTL this evening to negotiate package and it turms out that the department which deals with that is only open until 5pm - nightmare as account is in OH's name and they won't deal with me. Problem is he finishes work at 5.30 and doesn't get home until after 6pm. So we're gonna change the account to my name and either get a better deal or cancel. I am tired now and had a long day of dealing with the finances, so I'm gonna go to bed and thankfully sleep much better thanks to all the advice and support from you guys!
Tomorrow I shall return to the grind....:(

Bargain_Rzl

What standard are you on the piano? At Grade 8 or above and with a bit of a flair for teaching, I'd say you wouldn't find it too hard to make at least £20 an hour. My mum used to teach piano from home when she was a SAHM - she had about 3-4 adult pupils at one stage and taught on one evening per week, then later on went back to it and had several adult and child pupils I currently pay £25 p/h for my advanced singing lessons (should be £30 but my teacher is a friend so I get a discount - very MSE!)

MLbiggestfan

Hi there tanmu. Agree with seeweed you should be getting more tax credits than that. Me and Oh between us earn around the same as your husband is earning monthly and our tax credits are more than yours. Keep phoning them or apply again.
Is your tv service with sky? You can cancel your sky account(if a customer for more than 12 months) and you keep your dish and box and just get the free channels.
Or if cable phone them and threaten to leave. Always worth a try to see if they will offer you a cheaper service to stay!
You could ask at your local school see if they need any dinner ladies, lollipop ladies, etc. Used to do that myself. Not a massive wage but it helps and you are off when the kids are off!! (annual salary is divided into 12 monthly payments so you even get your wages at the end of August when you've had your feet up for a month lol)
Hang in there. Plenty of people in the same situation here.

overbudget

French and German - brilliant - offer tutoring. You could also try translation work - if you have a local university it may be a place to start - researchers sometimes need documents translating. Local businesses might also need translators. Not sure if there are any online services you can sign up to but it is worth looking at. Piano teaching also. Both should pay well per hour and can be done at home.